There is one question I am asked a lot when I talk about products or brands that are not readily available locally here in Malaysia. It is this – “Did you buy it online?” and usually the follow up questions will be “Is it safe? Did you get taxed?”
I have also noticed that many otherwise seasoned shoppers balk at shopping at overseas websites. They’d rather wait for it to be available locally, buy from a local website despite a mark up in price, or use a personal shopper/reseller, to save on the perceived hassle, or perhaps get instant gratification.
Nothing wrong with that, except when I’m told by these same people that they find it hard to shop online from overseas, because they’re afraid! Well, there’s no need to be!
I was a little slow off the starting blocks with online shopping back in the day. Then, many websites did not ship to Malaysia, and it was very frustrating. Today, most do, with the odd exception.
I have become quite an avid online shopper. But I am very careful with what I buy and where I buy it from. And because I get so many questions, I thought it would be helpful to share my experiences and tips for a more painless shopping experience 🙂
I started writing this, thinking it would be quick and easy, only to realize after a spell that it was a lot bigger than it looks LOL! 😀 So, suffice to say, settle right in with a cup of your favourite beverage and maybe some sustenance. Even take a few days if you like 😛
Why buy from overseas websites when you can buy locally?
Well, why not? 🙂
When you bear in mind that many of the products and brands available in Malaysia are imported, it makes sense sometimes, to buy from the country of its origin. Sometimes, it can work out cheaper, even when factoring in the exchange rate and shipping costs.
This is particularly true when you are after a luxury designer good. While most luxury brands have done their best to standardize their prices globally, you may still find that a French brand is still a wee bit cheaper in Europe. Sites like Luisaviaroma or Net-a-Porter helps equalize the playing field somewhat for us.
We are used by now, to the mark-up on local prices, whether due to taxes or distributor’s profit margins. These usually make the prices of goods a little more expensive than what they may be elsewhere. So, why not even that playing field? It is our hard-earned money after all. We want the best bang for our buck.
Sometimes, it is because I cannot get the size I want here, as it’s not carried locally. For example, I wear Ferragamo Varina shoes in B width, while only D width is carried locally, and that’s too wide for me. I’ve found that Shopbop carries the B width (Net-a-Porter carries C width – they don’t say so but they do), and a few times a year, they run quite generous discounts of up to 25% off, so I score my shoes at a much more affordable price. That’s also when I buy my Sam Edelman Felicia flats – the best and most comfortable ballet flats in the world bar none! 🙂
Some overseas retailers are also more generous with discounts and deals than local sites or retailers. Often, you end up with a better deal during sale time, so I wait till then to splurge.
Some sites from the UK even generously remove VAT when shipping outside of the EU (it is currently about 20% – not sure what’ll happen after Brexit) so you’re already saving 20% off the full price on a normal purchase. I love that, and when I couple that with a discount code or a sale, they get a lot of my money 😛
Is it safe to shop at overseas websites?
It’s as safe as shopping at any website, provided of course, you are careful and do your research properly beforehand.
I am very careful about the websites I shop at. If it’s a site new to me, I do my research on it first, before making a purchase. Sometimes, I ask around to see if anyone I know has shopped at that particular site before. Sometimes, I take the risk.
You don’t hear a lot of people talking about websites like Naturisimo or Bath and Unwind, and neither do I. But I took a chance on them a few years ago, and found them to be legitimate, and have a decent selection of brands. I have now shopped at both of these sites fairly often since.
To be safer, always ensure that the website you’re shopping on is secure. Look at the address bar, and ensure that you see the lock symbol, and https. This is true whether on an overseas website or locally.
If you are still unsure, run the website through Google and see what pops up. If it’s not a legitimate site, it will usually be quite new, or people will report complaints. Scam sites do not last very long without being taken down.
Running the sites through Google also gives you an idea of what other people are saying about them. They could be legitimate, but have poor customer service. Or perhaps have a record of not responding to issues in a timely manner. You want to know of any pitfalls so you go into it with your eyes wide open.
Are their products authentic?
This again comes down to you doing your homework, and research before splurging. The websites I shop at are well-known sites. Some of them have physical stores, and most of them have been around for a while and are established.
I sometimes get questions about the authenticity of designer items sold on Net-a-Porter, Asos and Shopbop. The former is an established online store-front set up to sell designer brands, and their items have proven to be authentic. Shopbop and Asos have more mass appeal, but from my experience, they sell authentic goods too.
I have had the odd run-in with Shopbop, primarily due to the shipping, that’s put me off shopping with them. But to their credit, once I lodged a report with them, it was resolved quite quickly.
Also, always remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you know that a particular product costs $100 and you suddenly see it being sold on a random website for $25, something is wrong. Avoid at all costs.
I also stay away from websites that sell very generic or a very random selection of items. Always click around, read the About page, the FAQ and the terms. Then, go to trusty Google and look up the site to see what others have to say about it. It could spare you a lot of heartache, stress and save you money!
What websites do I shop at?
In general, I stick to well-established websites. You may recognize some of them in this list that I frequent which is by no means exhaustive 🙂 Do note I will only list websites that ship internationally, because I know I have an international audience, and I want everyone to benefit from a good deal! 🙂 (Shipping info is correct as of Feb 2020)
- SpaceNK (beauty) – Free Shipping worldwide > £60
- Cult Beauty (beauty) – Free Shipping worldwide > £40
- Net-a-Porter (luxury fashion and beauty) – Shipping US$15 from APAC site or free over US$300 Duties paid
- Book Depository (books) – Free Shipping worldwide no limit
- Luisaviaroma (fashion) – € 30 Duties paid
- Shopbop (fashion) – Free Shipping > US$100
- Naturisimo (natural beauty) – Free Shipping > £100 (Get £10 off first order of £40)
- Bath and Unwind (beauty) – Free Shipping > US$25
- Lookfantastic (beauty) – Free Shipping > RM400
- Feelunique (beauty) – Free Shipping > £75
- Asos (fashion and beauty) – Free shipping > £40
- The Outnet (discount fashion) – US$25 flat
- iHerb (beauty, groceries and supplements) – Staggered shipping cost depending on weight, quantity and goods purchased
- Ebay (various – preloved designer goods) – Experience varies depending on the items shopping for, and how much homework you do but often, a good place to grab a deal on preloved items, or to find discontinued items
- Beautylish (beauty predominantly high end makeup brushes) – Free Shipping > US$100
- Cos Stores (fashion) – US$20 or free above a limit (no longer ships to Malaysia and Singapore)
- Dr. Sam’s skincare – Use code PARISBMWS for 10% off. Ships internationally
Do note of course, that while I have had a positive experience with the websites listed here, all of which I have shopped at multiple times over the years, and am comfortable recommending, user experience will always differ from person to person.
I have come across any number of people who can tell you that they have had poor experiences with these sites. All I can say is that it’s a personal thing. I only recommend what I can comfortably use and that includes websites I shop at too! 🙂
How do I make payment on these websites? Is it safe?
My personal payment method of choice is PayPal. The reason is because I do not have to disclose my credit card details (nor have to remember my credit card number) and because PayPal has built-in purchaser protection.
You don’t need funds in your account, but you do need to link your credit card to it. The difference is that when you make payment, you go through the PayPal portal, instead of keying in your credit card details. PayPal has its share of complaints, which I have observed over the years, but I still use it for buyer protection.
If you do not receive your item within a certain period of time (I think it’s 30 days) then you can contact PayPal, open a dispute, and (usually) get your money back. Some sellers notoriously do not like using PayPal, as they feel it is more biased to the purchasers.
Personally, save for once when I had to open a dispute for a purchase on ebay many years ago, I’ve never had to avail of the service with a retailer. But it’s nice to know it’s there if I need it.
Otherwise, use your credit card to make payment. The exchange rate will be calculated when the transaction is posted to your statement, and experience teaches me that it is usually a wee bit more favourable than market rates.
If a problem arises with your purchase, e.g. you do not receive your goods or are unable to get a refund, you can contact your credit card to report the problem and try to get a chargeback. Personally, I have not availed of this remedy, so I do not know how it works. But if you have, it will be interesting to know how it works for you.
Whatever you do, DO NOT use your bank account to make cash payment. This includes using a debit card. The reason is that you are left without any recourse to a remedy should you not receive your goods. Once cash exchanges hands, that’s it. Poof! It’s gone.
I do the same even when shopping at local websites. Some sites offer the option to have online payment from your bank account. It’s convenient, but I never pick that option, because I want traceability, a record, and also a way to get my money back should a dispute arise.
REMINDER: Always look for the lock symbol and ‘https’ in the address bar. This tells you that you are on a secured website so information you leave on the site are private. It isn’t proof against a server breach, but it is one step of security. I never ever shop, give information or make payment on websites that are unsecured. It might just shock you how many local websites are.
Will I get taxed by customs on my online purchase?
The RM2.6 billion question 😛
The answer is both yes and no.
I’ve been on both sides, and I can only tell you that you have to shop smart to not have to pay too much customs tax.
In Malaysia (different laws and regulations apply in different countries) we are taxed for goods “imported” that exceed a total value of RM500. The rationale I believe, is that anything less than that would be for private consumption, while any value more than that implies that it is for business. Do note that this sum of RM500 will be converted from the overseas currency, and will include shipping costs.
For example, even if you qualify for “Free Shipping” from the vendor, the cost of shipping may be estimated by the Customs department upon inspection, and a value assigned to it. This value will be added to the value of goods, and if it exceeds RM500, you are liable to pay tax. Free shipping simply means we don’t have to pay for shipping, but to the customs, it doesn’t matter. It still had to get here, and it adds to the value. Sometimes, this shipping cost is not factored into the calculations. I’ve had both happen to me, so it’s a little arbitrary.
It is also worthwhile to note that this value hasn’t changed in many years, so it hasn’t taken into account the rising prices of goods or the exchange rate. That’s a pity, because it means that we are sort of stuck with this rather low amount 😛
From my experience, the tax rate is between 6-10% depending on the law in place at the time. I know many people grouse about this, but the customs man isn’t out to penalize you. He’s just doing his job, and the few times I’ve gone down to the Customs office at KLIA to clear my packages, they are really quite nice people. So, cut them some slack, and think of it as a doing your bit for your country’s coffers 😛 You are already getting a good deal on your purchase aren’t you? 😉
But if you’d like to eke out every last bit of savings from your purchase, yes, I do have some tips for you 😉 Shh… don’t leak this to the tax man.
- Don’t buy in bulk – Don’t buy multiples of the same thing. The Customs man might think you’re running a business and tax you anyway, even though your purchase is under RM500. I usually only have one of each item in my package, which is far more likely for someone buying something for themselves. This is true especially when I purchase from iHerb. I often have a random grocery or household cleaning item in my box, and I rarely buy more than one of each item.
- Watch your total bill – I am usually quite careful to ensure that my total bill doesn’t exceed a certain amount. If shopping from a UK-based website, I keep my total to about £80 or under and from the USA, about US$100. With the current exchange rate, and factoring in any unexpected shipping costs, this usually comes to just below RM500, and allows me to slip through. If possible, split up your purchases and order them separately over a period of time. That said, I have split my purchases, only to have one package delivered and the other taxed. So perhaps the Customs were on to me 😛
- Buy from sites that offer DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) – This is usually true for luxury goods. Websites like Net-a-Porter and Luisaviaroma offer a DDP option, where the tax is built into the price of the goods, so there are no surprises. You just pay up and wait for the package to show up at your door. No hassle and no math required! Shopbop allows you to decide if you’d like to pay your customs duties ahead, or pay upon delivery. In my last purchase, I opted to pay ahead, but ran into a bit of a problem with Shopbop and DHL, their delivery partner. I made a quick call to their helpline, and it was sorted out in a few days, but it was a bit unpleasant nevertheless.
- Consider your shipping options. Note that delivery by courier (DHL, Fedex, UPS etc) generally cost more than EMS or Registered Post. So, if you have an option, pick the cheaper shipping method, so it doesn’t add too much to the total cost of your item. I’m a bit of a gambler, and sometimes, even go for regular airmail untracked packages. But that’s me 🙂
- Go Airmail not courier. Aside from the cost, I find that airmail or registered mail packages sometimes slip through customs even though the value maybe higher than RM500. It’s a little gamble I take both on shipping and on the customs 😛 I believe it is usually due to the volume of packages that arrive daily at the customs that they may not scan every one as thoroughly. By contrast, when you opt for a courier or forwarding service, the courier or forwarder is duty bound to declare the value of the package so there is a 100% chance you’d be taxed. Using regular mail, there is a 50% chance, and I’m willing to take that chance 😉
A point to note is that all clothing and leather goods arriving from overseas will be taxed a flat 10% regardless of how much the item costs. So do take note of that especially if buying shoes or bags online.
I have managed to get away with not having to pay any taxes on Asos purchases for sneakers and the odd skirt, but I think it depends on the quantity. I was taxed on one Asos package, and not on another. So, I haven’t quite figured that one out yet.
How to pay your Customs taxes?
You can appoint a customs clearing agent to clear it for you (usually the courier company handling your delivery) or you can opt to clear it yourself. I’ve done both.
To clear your own package (if received via EMS or mail service), you will receive a written notice that the item is held at Customs. If you live in the Klang Valley, this will be at the International Mail Centre near KLIA. You can head down there with the tracking number to collect the item, open it up for inspection by the Customs officers, then let them assess the value (have a copy of the invoice on hand) before making payment (cash only) to have it released. The process can take a couple of hours depending on how busy they are.
The easier option is to let your delivery courier clear it for you. If buying luxury designer goods online, or buying preloved from Ebay, always ask for it to be shipped by DHL or a reputable courier service. Once it arrives in the country and is inspected by Customs, DHL will notify you of the tax payable (10% on the declared value converted into RM at the government exchange rate that may not be 100% similar to that of the current exchange) and their administration fee (currently RM50 + service tax). Once you agree with the amount, DHL will send you a link to make payment, and will proceed to clear the item and deliver it to you once the taxes are paid.
Personally, I’d opt for the second option, unless I have a lot of free time on hand.
Will Customs seize my packages?
I have heard of it happening, but *touchwood* not to me so far.
I have not received any warnings, nor have any of my packages detained or seized.
I have also had many people report to me of some warning notices they receive from the National Pharmaceutical Department for their cosmetics or supplements purchases. Often, this is from their iHerb purchases.
Personally I can tell you that I have never received notices like this. I do tend to mix up my iHerb orders with a mix of the odd supplement, beauty and even sometimes, crisps or bits of spices and groceries. Perhaps this makes it seem more innocuous? Or perhaps it’s because I never order more than 1 of each item at one go so as not to arouse suspicions.
If they deem you to be an importer of such pharmaceutical products then you do have to get clearance from the National Pharmaceutical Department. I have done it once for one order of shower products. I had a little time, so I went down to KLIA, claimed my package, then went across to the National Pharmaceutical Department to get the clearance. The lady at the counter was quite irritated that I was asked to bother her, because she could see that it was just random bottles of body wash and clearly not for sale LOL! So I got the rubber stamp, and that was that. No taxes, just a little time expanded, and a bit of experience gained 🙂
What shipping options do I pick to ensure I receive my package?
The safest is to pick a tracked shipping option.
This could be by way of courier (DHL, Fedex, UPS etc) or Registered Post or EMS service. Anything that offers you a way to track your package from its point of pick-up, through to its delivery.
Packages sent by tracked delivery rarely go missing, as you can monitor their journey on its way to you. If you see any curious delays or hiccups, you can pick it up right away, and contact the relevant people.
Some services are more comprehensive than others. The international courier services have the best tracking, so you can see just where your packages have been (often, more countries in a day than you visit in a year!) and you can track them right to your door step.
Others like EMS or Registered Post tracking are a little more vague. It is updated as it leaves the origin country, and then again when it enters the destination country. But in between, it’s usually a quiet little black hole.
If you’re brave, or just have a slightly misplaced trust in the postal services like I do then you can opt for regular mail LOL! 😛 If I qualify for free shipping, and it’s by regular mail, I just opt for that. I may be just lucky, but in the years I’ve been buying online, I’ve lost perhaps 3 packages for good (all replaced or refunded) and had a couple that were just very very delayed.
How long will my packages take to arrive from overseas?
It depends on the shipping option you choose, and how efficient the website is at packing your item and getting it out the door.
With a courier service, depending on where it is shipped from, I have gotten my purchases anywhere from the next day (from Hong Kong) to about 3 days (from USA/UK).
With Registered post or regular airmail (during normal shipping times, not festive seasons), it’s anywhere from 7-10 days from the UK/Europe to 14-20 days from the USA. During festive seasons, it can be longer. I don’t usually panic any time before then, and this is based on my personal experience. Naturally, your experiences will shape your expectations.
What happens if I don’t receive my package?
Other than panic and fly into a fit you mean? 😛
If I don’t receive my package during my estimated period of time, I usually then check with the terms of delivery of the website. Often, they will tell you how long you should wait before notifying them of a missing package. Generally, it will be 6 weeks.
If so, I wait out that time and then contact the company to inform them that I have not received the package. The few times this happened to me, they offered to resend me my items. I usually get the second package.
There was once when I was offered a refund, as the item was no longer in stock. I thought it was fair. The original package never arrived.
Yet another time, about 2 weeks after the replacement package was received, the original package turned up on my doorstep! I could have kept quiet about it and enjoyed my double goodies, but didn’t think it was right to. So, I notified the company, and they very generously told me to keep it! Usually for me otherwise, missing packages rarely turn up.
This is why it is so important to shop at reputable online retailers, not some random fly-by-night website selling something cheap like a knock-off hair iron 😛 A reputable retailer will respond to you and tell you what to do, and what they can do for you. It lends them a lot of credibility, and instills consumer confidence.
What if my items arrive damaged or if I don’t like them?
If it’s the latter, then unless you shopped with a website that offers a very generous free returns policy like Net-a-Porter, then I’m afraid you’re stuck with it, buddy 😛 When buying online from overseas, it is important that you are quite sure of you want because mistakes can prove costly.
Do note that while Net-a-Porter allows you to send back your purchases for free if they don’t fit or if you just don’t like them, they will not refund the taxes already paid. So, be aware of this.
If they arrive damaged (that’s happened to me) I usually just take a picture of the damaged item and notify customer service right away. If it’s broken or smashed or destroyed, or in the case of my recent The Inkey List order, the whole tube exploded, then a refund is usually given immediately without me even asking.
If it is only minor damage e.g. a dent or a chip, they might offer a discount. It is of course up to you whether to accept it or pursue it further. Unless I buy something specifically for gifting, I am fine with slight dents in products I use, so a discount serves me fine. But if it doesn’t, then feel free to take it up further. In the case of one item I purchased from Net-a-Porter that arrived with a scratch, they offered to replace it. I just had to send it back (free), and they’d send me a new one. All resolved within a week! Some local websites can’t even deal with problems like this as efficiently.
From my experience with the websites I shop at, the customer service has been examplary. I generally have very few issues with them, and the few issues I do have, are resolved quite satisfactorily for me.
Have you used a shipping forwarder?
Shipping forwarders are quite popular these days especially if you want to shop from USA-based websites. You may notice that many of my beauty purchases are made from UK-based websites. The reason is because they all offer shipping directly to me, and offer free shipping with a very low threshold or with no threshold at all.
USA websites tend to be far more prohibitive in their shipping costs (except for iHerb) So, many people resort to shipping forwarders – Companies that offer you a local (USA) address that you have your items sent to, and they forward it on.
I have not used these services primarily because of the cost, and because I have a bit of trust issues. By the time the item arrives to me, and if it’s damaged, who do I take it up with? Also, can you trust the people who unpack and then repack your packages before it’s sent on to you?
I know many people use services like this so it must be quite safe. I personally just prefer shopping directly from the source. So, if a brand or an online retailer does not offer international shipping, or exorbitant international shipping, I go somewhere else that will ship directly to me. It may cost me a little more, but I get peace of mind.
Also there is nothing I want THAT badly to have to jump through hoops for 😛
So that, my friends, is my definitive guide to shopping online for delivery to Malaysia, especially for beauty and some fashion products.
The basic tips are these:
- Know your retailer
- Make sure the retailer is a secure website
- Do your homework
- Don’t be greedy and you won’t be taxed 🙂
Happy to answer any questions you may have. If you have any further tips to share, please do! I’m quite sure I missed something out!
And on that note, here’s wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
xoxo
Paris B
hi paris! just want to rec another online UK retailer – selfridges!
besides offering free DHL international shipping for a one-time annual fee of sgd75 (could be diff for your country), their prices are also much much more competitive. eg. armani lum silk foundation is sgd65 vs sgd95 locally. they carry alot of prestige brands and prices are generally 25%-40% cheaper than locally.
the onetime shipping fee pays for itself with the savings you reap, and orders arrive within 3 days. PLUS! selfridges offer free returns and refunds. just have to enter the order number, print the returns form and wait for DHL to pick up the returning item.
i’ve been very very happy with selfridges and been recommending to many friends (or helping them ship stuff instead lol). do give it a try!
Hi Zeezee, thank you for the Selfridges recommendation! Actually, I had been aware of them and their very affordable courier shipping and DDP polices for a while, but the very very unfortunate thing is that when I wanted to buy from them, they don’t ship most of the beauty products to Malaysia! Now, is that a bummer or what?! 🙁 They do ship to Singapore and to many other countries, and I’m reliably informed that they used to ship to Malaysia too but stopped since last year or the year before so I couldn’t recommend it.
That said, what I’m really eyeing from Selfridges is their boxing day sales on cast iron pots! HAHA! Now that would make my shipping worth its while 😉
I have been ordering from iHerb & Cult Beauty and managed to escape from paying tax. But during recent Black Friday sale, my colleagues and I went on a crazy online shopping spree and we got taxed 10%! As you mentioned, we have the option to do the clearance ourselves or hire an agent to do it at nominal fee of RM45/shipment. We opt for the latter and got our package the next day.
Still, the products are way cheaper than getting it here locally and we managed to buy brands that are not available here (The Inkey List , Pestle & Mortar).
Do check out Beauty Expert site which offers free delivery to Malaysia!
Thanks for sharing Lian Sim! 🙂 In the big scheme of things, that additional 10% isn’t that much is it? After all, most of the things are already so affordable 😀 I’m waiting on a Pestle & Mortar order too! Not here yet LOL! Thanks for suggesting Beauty Expert. I took a look, and saw they’re under The Hut group, which if I’m not mistaken, owns Lookfantastic as well. So, it seems legit – except I don’t know why they need so many websites selling similar things LOL!
Hi Paris B,
I find it challenging to learn the ways how different cultures operate with their Sales. For example I anticipated the Pat Mc Grath black friday sale and as I ordered the black friday reduced priced products I took some normally priced products as well. That was a mistake since they started a sale of – 25 % off everything after the black friday sale. Since I live in Europe and Mc Grath operates from States that – 25 % would very much be appreciated by me since it would have covered taxes and duties at some extent. How do You educate yourself on these sale issues, Paris?
good point made, terry. i also used to find it challenging and painful when sales get further reduced, turning my initial glee into dismay.
what i’ve learnt over the years is simply observe the retailers’ practices. for instance, advent calender sets will be discounted close to xmas, and further discounted after xmas. black friday is extremely competitive so retailers usually just offer the standard 20% or some freebies, then jack up the promos for year-end to sustain sales. it’s rather tough to wait and see but sometimes it pays to wait. right now, i’m waiting to see if cult beauty offers a deeper discount than 30% on xmas items after the 25th. if they do, great. if they dont, shrugs. shall wait for the next promo.
Haha keep an eye on SpaceNK too – they used to do really really good Boxing Day sales. But in the past couple of years, it was a bit disappointing. But still, worth keeping an eye out nonetheless! In fact, I’m quite surprised at Cult Beauty’s sale going on now. I don’t remember them having this sale before Christmas in previous years, but I do think we can expect a few deeper cuts before the Jan 1 at least!
Thank You Zeezee, these are excellent pieces of information as to how to be a clever buyer.
Hi Terry, that’s an interesting but potentially tricky question. Other than some basic sales that may be expected through the year, often, retailers now drop in random sales alongside. For example, Black Friday sales used to be only an American retailer thing. Now, it’s practically global. There used to be Cyber Monday sales too, but now the whole thing stretches across the weekend. Not to mention the more Asian-centric 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 sales, which I noticed have been picked up by Western online retailers too. I have also been bombarded by sales notices for days after the recent 12-12 sales, which I felt a little out of hand! LOL! With Christmas coming up, the UK sites usually hold Boxing Day sales.
But to answer your question, there is no hard and fast rule about how to know about sales. The only real way is through experience, and to sign up to the retailer’s newsletter, and hope they give us a heads up before it drops. Sometimes, we strike gold, and get ourselves a hefty discount. Sometimes, we miss. I’d say if there is something you really want, then missing out on a sale is frustrating. But on the flip side, you already have the items you want, and it might have been sold out otherwise if a big sale was on. So that’s something to be happy about 🙂 I sometimes miss a big sale, or sometimes something goes on sale right after I buy it. I chalk that up to experience, and move on 🙂
Thank You, Paris. It is good to know that it is kind of a You live and You learn process to all of us. Those possible Boxing day sales are something to follow, thank You for pointing them. Respect the way You are wrtiting and will be following what You will be writing year 2019.
Glad to be of help 🙂 Thank you for sharing your comments and thoughts and looking forward to the new year 🙂
Hi Paris, thanks for this wonderful writing about international online shopping. You can read my mind as I wonder whether to ask you if about custom tax. Now I have a very clear picture on this. Also, I think your article might be the first local sharing about international online shopping in Malaysia. Bravo.. anyhow, I enjoy reading what you write. Some bloggers just being too pretentious I feel. No one can write like you. Keep on popping those topics that no one ever bother to write.
Thank you Susin, that was incredibly sweet of you 🙂 I do hope it has proven to be helpful because I know that the custom tax is the biggest stumbling block for many people. But all you have to do is shop intelligently, and all will be well 🙂 Now, go enjoy the Boxing Day sales! 😉
Haha. I’ll check out the beauty products tomorrow for the boxing day sale. You know nowadays the Alibaba Taobao is making online shopping so popular. Even big international brands have their own websites in Taobao. I purchased Zara before via Taobao agent using Taobao app. After the exchange rate and added the shopping cost, the price is almost 20% less compared with local store. For handbags, I just “upgraded” from Vincci to Coach. Shopping at JPO is what I can afford. Hopefully one day I will have chance to own an entry level luxury brand via online shopping soon. Merry Christmas to you Paris.
Oh yes I know of many people who go crazy shopping on Taobao LOL! I can’t read chinese so I’m fortunately spared. I mean, if I really wanted to, I could run it through Google Translate, but I figured I’d better not open that can of worms LOL! 😀 And I did not know that Zara had their own store on Taobao! Goodness me – 20% savings is a lot. Maybe I should learn to take a look 😛 Oh and don’t knock a Coach! My first “designer” bag was a Coach 😀 I bought it online from ebay back in the day (no JPO) and I still have it – holding up well, and still in use! If you want a decent leather bag in a nice design, some of their classic designs are good, and when you get it on sale, it’s naturally better! What’s more important is for us to spend within our means 🙂 Hope the festive season has been good for you!
Thanks for the informative and detailed write-up on custom taxes. Time to shop! *rubs hands*
Just nice, the post-Christmas sales are now on! LOL! 😉
Hi Paris,
Thanks for the insight on tax for online purchases. I agree with trying to keep the amount of purchases below RM500. But with exchange rates being volatile so far, I have no idea how they actually converted the amount to RM as the shipping notes are usually stated in foreign currencies. Might be on the date of ordering everything costs less than 500 but on the day they passed through customs it exceeds 500 lol.
I would also like to recommend CDJapan. Apart from CD/DVDs of Japanese artists, they also have high end Japanese brushes (and maybe makeup too but I have not explored that). They usually offer free shipping for brushes totalling 12,000 yen or more (pretty close to the RM500 threshold with current FX). Items are packaged pretty well so far and sometimes they have 20% off for selected items.
Tarte.com also offers free shipping ~80 USD if I’m not mistaken. If they are on sale, they could be even cheaper than Sephora.
Hi Layen 🙂 Thanks for sharing about CDJapan and Tarte.com too! I don’t use much Tarte anymore, but you certainly have me curious about checking out CDJapan 😉 As for the exchange rate, I believe the customs has a certain fixed rate of exchange they base their calculations on, so it isn’t exactly based on the market fluctuations. This is why I err on the side of caution, and go low with my threshold, so if there are any fluctuations, I’d still come within the RM500 limit 😀 I’ve been burnt before by going too close to the limit and it just wasn’t worth it paying taxes and charges for going over by just a few RM so now I just err on the side of caution. Thus far, I’ve been safe!
Thank you for your very comprehensive online shopping guide. As a regular online shopper, I have never encountered any problems before, until recently my package was being held by customs. The courier sent an email to me, stating the estimated cost of taxes or duties I have to pay. I was shocked as the merchandise was below RM500 (around GBP85). So I thought there must be something “wrong” with the customs (you know what I mean). But then I read online that the Royal Malaysian Customs tax our package based on the package total value or CIF – cost, insurance and freight. Your post has reconfirmed what I have read. Turned out the CIF of my package was around RM770 (the shipping fee costs a whopping RM300!) I have to fork out around RM110 for SST plus handling fee. At least it is a lesson learned. And here are some tips for those who want to lower customs suspicion. Use your siblings’ or your parents’ names if you decide to split the package (only work for free delivery). And try to place each order at least 30 minutes apart.
Sorry to hear about your experience, but thank you for sharing! I also read that if the shipping costs are free or specified as 0, then there is a scale that the customs will attribute to the cost of shipping, which can tip it over the limit. Also, I have learnt that discounts aren’t taken into account either. So eg. if your actual price is GBP100 (over the limit) and you get a discount that brings it to GBP80 (under the limit) it may still be calculated based on the original price. Just one more thing to note 🙂
It’s not always a good experience, especially if the company uses a top end courier like DHL and ships DDU (Delivery & Duties Unpaid).
Bought some stuff from Joseph Joseph UK few months ago. The items cost £38; shipping was £10. £48 x 5.42 = RM260. Because the amount was way below the RM500 threshold, I chose not to prepay the import duties, which came up to around £10, at checkout. BIG mistake. Got slapped with a RM221 bill by DHL when the parcel cleared customs. The duties were RM168 and DHL disbursement fee RM53. I couldn’t believe it, so I called up DHL and asked for a breakdown and some clarification.
The Cost (C) was RM260, Insurance (I) was RM2, and Freight (F) was freaking RM316.94!! So the CIF came to RM525, just RM25 above the threshold. I asked DHL how the customs came up with that figure for Freight, they said they follow an algorithm, which is not allowed to be disclosed to the public. This means that it is up to them to charge us however much and the receiver has no power over it at all. There is no way we can estimate the freight cost for our order. This also means that they can inflate the freight just so the CIF exceeds the threshold and force you to pay the duties. Very dodgy.
I learned a painful lesson here. Do not buy from retailers who ships with DHL with DDU, no matter how small your purchase amount. DHL puts every single parcel through customs as they makes a huge profit from the disbursement fee. I have bought from Amazon US, Amazon UK, ASOS UK and some other UK retailers and never had a problem. These retailers use Aramex or regular postal services, some even untracked. Yes they might be slower, but at least you have less risk of being punished by the customs.
Thanks for sharing your experience Elle! I had a poor experience with Shopbop back in the day, when they didn’t ship with the DDP option so from then I learnt to always look for retailers that ship DDP (if using a courier service). Courier services are scrupulous about declaring their goods (I think it’s a requirement) so we’d be caught, regardless. I find that forwarders or logistics companies like LWE are the same. If it comes by regular or registered mail, the chances it slips through the cracks are higher 🙂
Hi, I was just delivered an order from another UK retailer – Sea Salt – who also uses DHL. My purchase was £67. The freight by Malaysian customs was RM316.94, which was the same as my past experience with Joseph Joseph. I think we can conclude for now that anything by air from the UK carries a freight charge of minimum RM316.94, and DHL disbursement fee is a fixed RM53. For women clothing it’s 10% SST, no other duties.
This means, if we are trying to get below the RM500 threshold, the purchase value must not exceed RM173.06 (saving RM10 for insurance), which after conversion is about £33. What can we get for £33 though haha. Anyway, I hope this helps other shoppers here!
Thanks for the updates Elle, it is very helpful! I think for standardization purposes, the Customs dept has a fixed courier rate to make it easier for them to calculate. Safest to purchase DDP if buying by courier, or take a chance with registered/regular post! My Asos packages come through without taxes usually even though they contain clothes or shoes
hi paris, i was wondering whether the malaysia custom already reduce from rm 500 to rm 200? i was chased by the asos carrier to pay for the custom duty for the parcel below £80. it never happen for my last shipment date on 7th of July.
Hmm… to be honest, my understanding is that it’s still RM500 but if it’s clothes/leather goods, there is a 10% duty (if it happens to be caught in the system, based on experience) My last Asos order for a skirt came through without issues. But it was just one piece, and quite cheap. To be honest, I won’t be able to tell you why your package was detained, sorry 🙁
Hi, just asking for confirmation. Let say my package is below RM 500, but because Im buying cloth (woman cloth) I will still need to pay tax?
Hi, I’m not sure if cloth is a taxable item. You could try to check with the customs department and see if it is, before ordering.
Wow i agree to not ship using DHL. I bought ANIME CDs and SOUVENIRS from Buyee Japan, total amount RM300++ shipped using DHL and was surprisingly slapped with an RM80 tax!? that has never happened to me before. I’ve bought countless of anime souvenirs from buyee in the past, shipped using EMS, and never had this problem. I agree with you on that DHL is making a profit on customs fees.
Now i’m looking to buy a jewelry via Buyee Japan as well (another anime merchandise), but it contains precious stones and metals. Currently seeking advice on how to import precious jewelry that contains precious metals and stones. Can someone please advise me on this? (i sought help from Lowyat previously, but I get slapped with all the lack of seriousness comments, including one that called me out for being a “money launderer” lol it’s anime merchandise and it was made that way, it’s Laputa’s Castle in the Sky necklace, how does that make me a money launderer lol but I really need advice in all seriousness, can someone help out?
Hello, Paris. I bought The Ordinary products from Feelunique last night and made the payment by using pay my card. The total amount of my payment is £83.83?~RM433?actually. But I don’t know why there has extra charge and I realized that total RM469 was deducted from my savings account. ??
Hi Yun Hua, the only reason I can think of for this is the exchange rate imposed by your bank. If you run £83.83 through XE.com, it throws up RM433, but that’s just an indicative figure, not the exact figure. The exact amount will always be whatever your bank’s exchange rate is, which is often higher than what’s indicated on xe.com. I’d suggest calling up your bank to check the exact amount in GBP that was charged. If it is £83.83 then it is the bank’s exchange rate resulting in the different amounts.
Hi Paris
Have you buy thing in Mytheresa?
Do you know this website can be trusted?
Hi there, I haven’t purchased from Mytheresa, but I have seen it recommended by reputable people, so I think it’s legit.
Thanks for the definitive guide. I had ordered from LookFantsatic two weeks ago and haven’t received my order. I was getting a little impatient and anxious. Reading your guide calms my nerves a little. And it helps that you recommended LookFantastic as one of the sites to online shop on. Phew.
Hi a newbie here.
was planning to buy from lookfantastic under free shipping, untracked. Just want to know whether did you received your packaged from lookfantastic and did you have it tracked ?
I hope you did eventually receive your package, Kit! Sometimes, waiting for these packages in the mail can be nerve-wracking!
Hi, I had bought The ordinary skincare products from Lookfantastic but after 1 month I still haven’t received it??I use standard delivery which cannot be tracked?? what should i do then?
Just want to know, have you received your parcel from Lookfantastic in the end?
In my experience, I reported it as missing after 6-8 weeks. They offered to resend or refund. I opted to resend and I received the 2nd package. Hope you managed to get it resolved.
Oh man I knew I should have refer back to this before deciding to shop on overseas website…. i literally just hit a little over RM500 and I actually bought few of same things like makeup brushes like i like multiple of blending brush and same foundations in different shades…
And I checked again, it’s going to be courier service so will be taxed, but if it is really around 10%… i guess I can live with that…
Hi Farhana, hopefully you weren’t taxed too much! On a previous occasion, although I didn’t hit RM500, I still got taxed on makeup brushes 🙁 But it was quite a while ago and maybe they thought they were for painting haha!
Hi, Paris.
Glad to come across your write-up. I’m actually eyeing a couple of items on ASOS and noticed you even mentioned that you had experienced buying from ASOS, but somehow I’d like to know if If Id get taxed even if I buy one item that only costs me 52 pound? Could you tell me a little bit of the process like ;- is the only package being taxed will the buyer get called by custom or everyone will be get called by custom at first for clearance? Then they will decide either the buyer will be taxed or not? Kinda confused now. Never actually in this situation yet where I bought something from the oversea that Ive been taxed. Thank you (:
Hi there, late reply but here goes. I’ve bought items from Asos and once I got taxed as there were about 5-6 items in the package. But otherwise, if I just buy 1-2 items, even if it’s just 52 pounds, I don’t get taxed. If your package is subject to customs taxes, you will receive a notice from Customs via Pos Malaysia informing you that your package is subject to taxes. If you want to dispute it, you can go in person to clear your package and dispute in person. Otherwise, you can appoint Pos Malaysia to be your tax agent to clear your package for you (There is a fee but I can’t remmeber how much). The customs won’t telephone you – it’ll be done by post, and it’s at their discretion, so you don’t have a say in the matter. Hope this helps!
hello , i have a question, i bought goods from china though air and ship, i asked the china supplier send to the guangzhou and i paid the guangzhou logistic. Then they help me to send to malaysia , the ABX logistic ( malaysia) will send to my office. The goods part of it i use for personal use, part of it was commercial use, the air package always come in big size because the heavier package the cheapest the price. The ship package sometime come with 40 small boxes. THE question is , i didnt paid any taxes, and the goods i bought for commercial use sometime was below RM500 BUT i mixed with personal things and ask them sent together , so i should pay tax right? but until now i havent paid any of them, what should i do now?
Well, if you receive your items, then there’s no tax payable. If they have been withheld by customs, you’ll receive a notice.
Thank you for this article !
Hope you found it helpful 🙂
Hi there, thanks for the super details experience that you have shared. i just wonder is it the total checkout money that is not exceed RM500 will not be taxed by custom?
Let say if i buying shoe from SIZE? and my check out price is £43.99 where is £40+£3.99 (standard delivery).
So will i taxed by custom? i not really understand about the CIF. Do i still need to pay for the freight cost? One last question is, is my spending cost is still £43.99?
Hi, they tax the whole sum, not just the portion that exceeds RM500. Yes, the frieght charges are calculated in (they have their own calculation). So you will pay £43.99 which on paper is lower than RM500 so technically it won’t be taxed. HOWEVER, leather goods and clothes are taxed anyway, regardless of price, so in the case of shoes, you are likely to have to pay tax regardless of amount purchased.
Hai…Good day to you.
I would like to know if I bought from Body & Bath Works to Malaysia,do I need to pay taxes when arrive in Malaysia?As when I check out its already mentioned Sales Tax at Cart Page.
Can you help me?
Hi, sorry for the late reply. Did you mean you bought from BBW in the USA? If so, technically, there should be no taxes imposed by Malaysian customs if it’s less than RM500. The sales tax in cart is taxes in the USA. I haven’t bought from there before so I can’t comment. sorry
Hi. For Malaysia, I am wondering if the import duty & sales tax is applied onto the original price of the item or the price after discount given by the seller? The sales invoice unfortunately lists out the items in original price before discount, and the total discount applied is only shown at the bottom of the invoice. Thanks!
From my experience, they taxed it on the discounted amount BUT they calculate your total based on the original price. But sometimes, it slips through the cracks. I’ve experienced it both ways.
Hello, thank you for your article, Paris! I do have a question, did you get taxed for the amount above RM500 only or the total amount including the RM500 and above? Thanks in advance!
Hi, you get taxed on the total amount.
This post is so helpful! I have a question hopefully you’re able to help, I have a parcel that is to be delivered via “standard courier” and the total of the order is rm495. That was before I stumbled upon this article and I hadn’t realise the limit was 500. Based on your experience, What are the chances of me being taxed? Looking at it now, It’s way too close to 500rm isn’t it.
Hi Paris!!
What a great reading and thank you for listing out all possible websites to shop in.
However, i try to purchase chanel skincare through Feel Unique site which you mentioned earlier does not ship to Malaysia.. (WHELP!) i am thinking of using MYus shipping services for my issue. What do you think?
Hi Farhanna, I’ve never used a forwarding service and cannot share any experience, sorry! Feelunique does ship to Malaysia, but there may be certain items in their shop that they don’t ship.